VOA标准英语2010年-Thailand's Anti-Government Protesters

Farm workers in a field near the city of Udon Thani, a rural stronghold for anti-government protesters

Thai authorities have for now subdued¹ anti-government protesters from the countryside who occupied parts of the capital for two months. A military crackdown ended the demonstrations², but not before more than 80 people died, most of them protesters.

In their stronghold of Udon Thani in the northeast, protesters have not given up their demands for new elections and justice for those who died.

Paeng Lam Saleeto sits on the floor of her modest home in Udon Thani, listening to a radio debate by politicians in Bangkok about last month's violence. She says she does not understand everything they are talking about, but it is clear to her that both sides, the government and the opposition³, are just bickering⁴.

Beside her is a framed picture of her 32-year-old son, one of several Red Shirt protesters killed on May 19 when soldiers cleared them from Bangkok. She says she supported her son because he was defending democracy and demanding fair government.

 But then his body was found in a Buddhist⁵ temple in the protest camp that was thought to be safe from the clashes.  She says she does not want any of her children to protest any more. She did not realize there would be killing⁶. Otherwise, she says, she would have stopped him.

Starting in March, thousands of Red Shirt protesters occupied central parts of Bangkok, blocking major roads and forcing hundreds of businesses to close down.  After the deadly May 19 crackdown, during which angry protesters set more than 30 buildings ablaze⁷, the government promised an independent investigation⁸.  Still, officials say most of the violence was the work of "terrorists" among the protesters.

Here in the Red Shirt heartland, there is little trust in Bangkok authorities, whom the protesters say removed their elected representatives from power.

Under emergency law, the government is cracking down on Red Shirt media and activities. Government officials say they are working to prevent more violence, but also are embarking⁹ on a long-term plan to reconcile the politically divided nation and address protesters' concerns about income inequality and holding new elections.

Retired¹⁰ policeman and political organizer Kamolsil Singhasuriya has already been questioned by authorities and says the Red Shirts are under intense pressure. He says another movement is bound to start once the emergency degree is lifted.  But he said it will be a non-violent democracy movement.

After last month's crackdown, hundreds of protesters in Udon Thani set fire to government buildings and vehicles. The old city hall building was gutted¹¹. Its teakwood floors have been reduced to ashes.

In the parking lot are the burned remains¹² of a few fire trucks. Security guards armed with M16 rifles now patrol the area. Police and security guards here say they have friends and family among the protesters and they are concerned that despite the current calm, unrest could quickly return.

Chouchart Klinchan, a security guard at the old city hall, says despite their sympathies, the guards are on high alert. He cites rumors¹³ that predict more unrest in about two months because protesters are still angry and may want to take further action against the government.

Authorities have extended emergency rule until July, but say under the government's reconciliation¹⁴ plan, elections could be held early next year. Red Shirt supporters in Udon Thani say they are willing to wait for elections. But many also say if the probe into the protest violence is one-sided, the country's divisions will only deepen.
 

1 subdued   

adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He seemed a bit subdued to me. 我觉得他当时有点闷闷不乐。
• I felt strangely subdued when it was all over. 一切都结束的时候，我却有一种奇怪的压抑感。

2 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 bickering   

v.争吵( bicker的现在分词 )；口角；（水等）作潺潺声；闪烁

参考例句：

• The children are always bickering about something or other. 孩子们有事没事总是在争吵。
• The two children were always bickering with each other over small matters. 这两个孩子总是为些小事斗嘴。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 Buddhist   

adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒

参考例句：

• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
• In the eye of the Buddhist,every worldly affair is vain.在佛教徒的眼里，人世上一切事情都是空的。

6 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

7 ablaze   

adj.着火的，燃烧的；闪耀的，灯火辉煌的

参考例句：

• The main street was ablaze with lights in the evening.晚上，那条主要街道灯火辉煌。
• Forests are sometimes set ablaze by lightning.森林有时因雷击而起火。

8 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

9 embarking   

乘船( embark的现在分词 )； 装载； 从事

参考例句：

• He's embarking on a new career as a writer. 他即将开始新的职业生涯——当一名作家。
• The campaign on which were embarking was backed up by such intricate and detailed maintenance arrangemets. 我们实施的战争，须要如此复杂及详细的维护准备。

10 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

11 gutted   

adj.容易消化的v.毁坏（建筑物等）的内部( gut的过去式和过去分词 )；取出…的内脏

参考例句：

• Disappointed? I was gutted! 失望？我是伤心透了！
• The invaders gutted the historic building. 侵略者们将那幢历史上有名的建筑洗劫一空。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

12 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

13 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。